Steam-trap.



H. N. MOODY.

STEAM TRAP. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1915.

Patented May16, 1916.

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- THB COLUMBIA PLANOU H. N. MOODY. STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 16, I915.

Patented May 16, 1916.

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rmiinn STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

HOWARD NADIN MOODY, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

STEAM-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern." 9 v Be it known that I, HOWARD N. MOODY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleansand State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steamtraps of that type adapted to receive the waterof condensation from a steam heating or circulating system and to return such water to the boiler Or source of steam supply for reheat ing.

The object of of my invention is to pro vide a simple, reliable, efiicientand comparatively inexpensive type of steam trap which dispenses with the use of packed trunnions or other conductive pivotal connections liableto leak or otherwise get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of balan'cedfreceiver together with cooperating valve mechanism for controlling the flow of the water, steam and air, whereby an apparatus which is certain in action and Operates in a smooth and even manner is produced.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trap constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the receiver in receiving position; Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the same; and Figs. 3 and 1 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the device.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide. a'suitable base, floor or foundation '1, upon which is mounted a frame structure shown in the present instance as consisting of spaced pairs or sets of up rights or brackets 2, 3, and 4. Extending longitudinally between the sides of the frame formed by the opposed brackets or uprights is a tilting vessel or receiver 5,

which may be of any suitable size, form and capacity.

As shown in the present instance,the receptacle 1 consists of a cylinder provided at or near its rear or receiving end with trunnions 6 journaled in suitable bearings upon the uprights 2 and forming an axis on which the receptacle is mounted to tilt in a ver- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed February 16, 1915. Serial No. 8,508.

tical plane. At its opposite or forward end the receptacle'is suspended by a link 7 from the forwaro short arm 8 of a weighted bal brackets or uprights 4:, whereby the beam or lever is eccentrically fulcrumed, or pivoted to tilt vertically on anaxis located between its center and forward end. The rear or long arm 12 of the lever 9 carries a weight 13 supportedby a hanger 14 slidably engaging the arm 12 of the beam whereby it may be-adjusted along the beam'to vary its leverage, a set screw 15 being provided for securing the weight in adjusted position. When the receiver isin normal positionit is held by the balancing leverage of the weight 13 at an angle tothe horizontal, the said receiver being tilted or inclined at an upward and forward angle, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. l The water of condensation flows through a conducting pipe 16, which is connected by a coupling 17 with a pipe 18, designed for the return of the water of condensation to the boiler. Connected with the conductor 17 and leading therefrom to the rear end of the receiver5 is a flexible pipe or tube 19, through which the water of condensation flows from the pipe 16 to the receiver and through which the water of condensation is subsequently expelled and delivered through the pipe 18 to the boiler.

Arranged in the pipes 16 and 18 on opposite sides of the pipe 19 are check valves 20 and 21 which open in a forward direction or in the directionof fiowof the water. When the receiver 5 is in receiving position the valve 21 is subjected to a preponderance of pressure on the boiler side andis hence held closed, while the water of condensation flows through the pipe 16 and past the check valve 20 and through a pipe 19 into the re-' ceiver 5, into which it continues to flow until the weight of the water exerts a leverage on the receiver greater thanthe opposing leverage exerted by the weighted beam or lever 12, whereupon the receiver will be tilted to discharge position, ashereinafter fully described. I I

Communicating with the steam space of theboiler is a pipe 22, andcommunicating with the atmosphere is a =pipe'23n Connected with the proximate ends of these pipes by a coupling-24 is a fiexiblepipe or hose which leads therefrom into the upper portion of the forward end of the receiver 5. This pipe is designedto permitair to discharge from the receiver when thelatter is filling with the water of condensation, and to provide for the supply of steam'to the receiver "when the latter tilts to its dis charge position so that the water will be'expelled and supplied to the boiler under the force of the steam.

Arranged in the pipe 22 is a steam admission or controlling valve 27 whereby the flow of steamis let on and cut off. A valve 28 is arranged in the pipe 23 on the opposite side of the pipe 25 from the valve 27 and is designed to be opened when the receiver is filling. for the exhaust of air and to be closed when the receiver is discharging to permit of The valve 28 is open in operation when thevalve 27 is closed, and vice versa, said valves operating in alternation with each other.

A mechanism is provided for automatically controlling the valves 27 and 28, and

comprises a primary or valve operating lever 29 and a jsecondaryor valve controlling lever 30. The lever 29 is fulcrumed at a point between its ends, as shown at31,-to one of the brackets or uprights 3,.and its rear arm is coupled by a link 32 to a crank arm 33 fixed to the stem of the valve 27, while the forward arm of the lever 29 is connected with the istem'34 ofthe valve 28, whereby in'the reverse rocking movements 'of the lever 29 the valves will be alternately opened and closed.

The lever 30 is fulcrumed at its rear end, as at'35, to the standard or upright3 above the fulcrum'31 of the lever 29, said lever 30 being otherwise unsupported, except as hereinafter-described, so as ,to have a determined lost motion or floating action, the forward or free end of said lever'being provided with a series of notches 36 to adjustably receive the hanger-37 of a weight 38, operating to depress said lever by gravity at the proper point in the cycle of operation'of the trap. A- contact pin 39 projects laterally from the receiver 5 at a point inadvance of its transverse'center and is adapted to engage under the lever 30 at a point between-the fulcrum 35 and the transverse center of said lever, said lever being provided with an approximately central vertical opening for passage 40 through which extends the upper cylindrical threaded end 41 of -a-connecting rod 42pivoted at its lower end to the forward end of the lever 29, whereby the two :levers are coupled for conjoint action.- The threaded end 41 of the rod 42 receives a pair of upper and lower nuts or adjustable contact members-or abutments 43 and 44, which may be positioned at different. distances apart to sensitively vary the action of the valve mechanism as required, it being 'understood that the construction described provides an independent or lost motion connection between'thelever-30'and connecting rod may be assumed to be in the receiving position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the valve 20 is opened under the pressure of the water flowing to thereceiver 5 andthe valve 21-closed underthe pressure of the water in the boiler, while the valve 27 is held closed and the valve 28 open by the lifting action of the contact39engaging and elevating the lever 30, which :in turn engages the abutment 43 and thereby lifts the forward end of the lever 29 to open the valve 28 and depress the rear end of said lever to close the valve 27. The water of condensation may thereupon flow freely to the receiver 5, while the air discharges through the valve 28 and pipe 23, As soon, however, as the weight of the water filling or approximately filling the receiver 5 establishesa leverage equal to the resisting leverage of the beam'or lever 9 the receiver beginsto tilt downwardly, and in so doing raises the weighted long arm 12 of the lever 9,. whichcontinues to riseas the receiver descends and until the receiver reaches an ap proximatelyhorizontal position and tilts the lever 9 also to anapproximately horizontal position substantially parallel-therewith.

On the beginning of the downward movement of the receiver the lever 30 descends under the gravity of the weight 38 with the contact 39, without, however, affecting-the valve mechanism until the receiver reaches its discharge position, since the lever 30, through its lost motion connection with the rod 42, simply moves downward in guided contact with said rod until it engages the abutment 44. At'this time the receiver 'will have completed its tilting motion to discharge position, and at the same time the tothe receiver through the :pipe 25 and as soon as it reaches the'proper pressure forces the water baok'throughithe pipe 19 and then through the pipe 18 to the boiler, to which it is thus returned from the heating or circulating system .fto be reheated. As the water discharges 'the weight and leverage of the "receiver are gradually decreased and the Weighted beam 9 finally begins'to actto raise the receiver, the water continuing to discharge without affecting the valve mechanism until its discharge is completed, during which time the lever 30, which is being carried up against the resistance of its weight by the pin 39, passes on its lost motion travel from the abutment 44 to the abutment 4:3 and begins to lift the rod 42. At the instant of final [discharge of the water and the return of the receiver backward to normal or filling position by the action of the lever 12, ,thelever 30 quickly rocks the lever 29 in the reverse direction to that previously described, thereby open ing the valve 28 and closing the valve 27 to restore normal conditions, and thus'resetting the apparatus for, the charging or filling of the receiver with the water of C011? densation and for a repetition of the above described operation whereby the water, of condensation, when a certainamount is supplied to the receiver, is discharged, therefrom into the boiler tobereheated, I

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, the, construction and mode of operation of my improved steam trapwill be readily understood,land it will be seen that the invention provides a trap which embodies all of the. contemplated advantages and is adaptedto operate with maximum reliability and efficiency.

While the structural organization disclosed is preferred, itwill, of course, be understood that modifications within the scope of the invention as set forth in the append ed claims may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. I claim as my invention: I

' 1. In a steam trap, an eccentrically, pivoted water receiver, means for balancingthe weight thereof and returning the same after actuationto normal position, a water supply pipe, a water discharge pipe leading to the water space of the boiler, a single jflexis ble combined water inlet and outlet pipe connecting the pivoted end of the receiver with saidwater supply and discharge pipes, check valves in said water supply and dis charge pipes on opposite sidesof said combined inlet and outlet pipe, a steam supply pipe, an air exhaust pipe, a flexible combined steam inlet. and air outlet pipe connecting said steam supply and air exhaust pipes with the opposite end of the receiver,

controlling valves in the steam supply and air exhaust pipes on oppositesides of said flexible inlet pipe, and means actuated by the movements of the receiver for simultaneously and alternately opening and closing said controlling valves. I

2. Ina steam trap, the combination of a tilting balanced receiver, water supply, and

discharge conductors communicating ,with the receiver, steam inlet and airdischarge conductors communicating with; the receiver and having controlling valves therein, a lever pivotally connected between its ends for--rocking motion ,and connected at its ends with said valves for alternately opening and closing the same, a-second lever pivotally mounted at one end, means acting uponothe opposite end of said secondlever fordepressing the same when free for such motion, a direct operating; connection between the'intermediateportion of the sec: ond named lever and one end of the first named lever for controlling the movements ofgthe latter, andv a member carriedjby the receiver andv free from connection with the charge conductors communicating with the receiver, steam inletand air discharge conductors communicating with the receiver and having controlling valves therein, a lever pivotally connected between its ends for rocking motion and connected at its ends with said valves for alternately opening and closing the same, a second lever pivotallymounted atone end and counterweighted'at its opposite end, a direct operating connection between the intermediate portion of the second named lever and one endof the first named lever for controlling the movements of the latter, and a member carriedby the receiver and free from connection with .the second. named lever but arranged for contact therewith to effect up anddown swinging movements of the said second named lever with the receiver. 7

In a, steam trap, the combination'of a water receiver pivotally mounted to swing in a vertical plane,,means connected with the receiver for balancing the :weight .of said receiver and returning the same after actuation to normal position,'said means operating to normally maintain the receiver inan inclinedposijtion, water supply and discharge connections, steam inlet and air discharge connections, controlling valves in said steam inlet and air discharge connectlOflSyLlBVBl pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having its ends connected with said valves for alternately operating the same upon reverse rocking. movements. of said lever, alsecond; lever pivotally mounted at one end at apoint above the pivot point of; thefirst namedlever, a weight upon the free end of the second named lever for swinging-the same downwardly when free operation, therewith, and a contact device upon the swinging receiver operating toengage and 11ft, the second lever .on 'the upward movement of said receiver and 'topermit downward movement o'f said second lever under "the action efits Weight upon the down-Ward movement ot the receiver.

'5; In steam trap,the combination of a Water receiver pivotally mounted to swing in a vertical plane, "means conn'ected With said receiver for balancing t-he Weight of said receiver andnormally maintaining it in an inclined position and re'aturning it "to normal position after-actuation, Watersu pply and discharge connections i'vith oneend of t-he-recei'ver, "steam supply and air discharge Connections with the'other end of the receive'r,controlling valves in said steam supply and "air discharge connections, an intermediately "pivoted rocking lever having its respective arms connected With said valves for alternately operating the same on I reverse movements of said" lever, a "second leverpivotally mounted at one end for vertical swinging movementya Weight upon the opposite end of said second lever for imparting don' nwarch'niotion thereto, 'a link ivomfly' 'connected withone arm of the first named lever and I having a loose guided connection for sliding and pivotal movements With thefintermediate portion of the second lever, said link being provided with spaced contacts above and beloa the second lever for coiiperati'on therewith, and a con-t tact member upon the receiver-arranged "to engage under and lift the second lever upon th'e' up'r'vard movement of said receiver and to move downwardlyyand away from said lever topermit downwardmoveme'nt thereof *on- 'the downward, movement of the receiver. i

'6; Ina steam trap, the combination of a tilting receiver, gravity controlled means for balancing the same,- means for "conducting water to and discharging it from the receiver, air discharging and steam supplying means communicatingvdth'the receiver and including air and steam controlling I valves, a rocking lever connecting said valves for alternately opening and closing the "same, a second'lev'er having *a lost motion connection with the first'named dever, and means controlled by the receiver for operating said second lever. 1 I

" 7'. In a steam'trap,the comblnation of a tilting receiver, gravity controlled rneansfor' balancing means 'for admitting er to :and discharging it from th r ceiver,-air and st'e'armcond'ucting means communicatlng \vlththerec'elver and including a contact device-"on the receiver for lifting said leverewhen the receiventilts upward, and a r-0d :.pivotally connected with the first -1 attest named lever and 'having a' and pivotal lc's'tmo'ti'on 'c'onnectionjvvith thesec- 0nd named lever.

8.- In a steam trap, the'combination of tilting balanced receiver, Water supplying and discharging means conn'ectedwith the receiver, air discharging and steam supply ing means communicating with the receiver and including air and steam' controlling ing said valves foralternately opening anfld closing'the samefa second pivoted actuating element having aloSt motion connection valves, a'pivoted actuating element governwith th'e'first named actuatingele'inent,and 7 said first lever, a rod pivota-lly connected to the freeend ofsaidshort arm and provided With a threadedextension'that loosely passes through said first lever adjacent said Epin, nuts adjustably mounted'on the threaded ex tension and adapted to alternately engage opposite edges/of said first lever, and valves under the control-o'f'said second lever for to escape from said receiver 10. In a steam trap, the combination of a tilting Water receiver, a pin projecting latterally from said receiver, upright, a weighted lever resting at an intermediate point on said pin and pivotally connected at one end tosaid upright, a second lever pivotally connected 'to-said upright so as to have along-arm and a short arm arranged parallel t'o said'first lever, a rod pivotally connected "tothe free end of said short arm and provided with threaded extension that loosely passes through said first lever adj acent said pin, nuts adjusta'bly mounted on the'threaded extension and 'adaptedfto alternately engage opposite edges of said'first alternately allowing steam-to enter and air lever, andvalv'esundenth'e control of said second lever for alternately allowing "steam to enter and air to escape fromsaid receiver.

11; "In a steam t'rapfthe combination of a tilting balanced receiver, Water supplyin and discharging means connected With the re'ceive'rfair and steam conducting means communicating With the receiver and including air and steam controlling valves, a pivoted actuating "element governing said valves for alternatelyopening and closing the same, a second pivoted actuatingelem'ent, means for depressing the same when the receiver tilts -'downwardly, a contact device on the receiver for lifting said second actuating element when the receiver --'tilts' upwardly, and a rod pivotally connected with the first named actuating element and having a sliding and pivotal connection with the second named actuating element.

,12. In a steam trap, the combination of an eccentrically pivoted water receiver, water inlet and discharge connections, air inlet and discharge connections, including controlling valves for alternately admitting air and steam upon reverse movements of the receiver, a valve actuating lever fulcrumed at a point between its center and one of its ends, said lever having its long arm connected with the steam controlling valve and i its short arm connected with the air controlling valve, a valve controlling lever pivoted at one end above the pivotal support of the valve actuating lever and having a slot at a point in advance of its transverse center, a link pivotally connected with the short arm of the valve actuating lever and extending upwardly through said slot, abutments upon the link above and below the control ling lever and forming a lost-motion connection between said. link and lever, a counterweight upon the outer end of the controlling lever, and a contact device upon the receiver adapted for engagement with said controlling lever at a point between the fulcrum of said lever and said lost-motion connection, at a predetermined time in the movements of said receiver.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I HOWARD NADIN MOODY. Witnesses:

J. P. BALDWIN, D. KAUFFMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner oflatents.

Washington, D. 0. 

